What exactly is Claude Code?

Claude Code is Anthropic's AI assistant that runs in your computer's terminal. Unlike ChatGPT (which gives you text), Claude Code directly reads files, writes code, and executes commands on your machine.

Do I need to know how to code to use Claude Code?

No. You describe what you want in plain English. Claude Code writes all the code. However, you do need basic comfort with Terminal, the command-line interface on Mac/PC.

How much does Claude Code cost?

Claude Code requires a Claude Pro subscription at $20/month. Heavy users running multiple simultaneous agents may incur additional API costs.

Is Claude Code better than ChatGPT?

They serve different purposes. ChatGPT is better for conversation and text generation. Claude Code is better for autonomous task execution—actually building things rather than just describing them.

What tasks can Claude Code do for non-developers?

Data analysis, spreadsheet automation, report generation, website creation, research synthesis, email drafting, and essentially any task that involves manipulating files on your computer.

Is my data safe with Claude Code?

Claude Code runs locally on your machine. Your files stay on your computer. Conversation content (your prompts) is sent to Anthropic's servers, similar to any AI tool.

What is Claude Code and Why Is Everyone Freaking Out About It?

A Google engineer said Claude Code did in 1 hour what her team took a year to build. Here's what's actually going on—and why business leaders should pay attention.

Mark Fershteyn

January 10, 2026

12 min read

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Step-by-Step Guide

Claude Code: What It Is and How to Set It Up on Mac

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